You Can Trust
The sermon emphasizes the importance of trusting Jesus and surrendering our lives to God's will for our highest good.
Charles E. Cowman emphasizes the importance of surrendering our lives to God, reflecting on the fear and hesitation that often accompany consecration. Through a personal experience, he shares the moment of realization that trusting the Man who died for us is the key to overcoming fear and fully surrendering to God. This surrender involves letting go of our own plans, hopes, and desires, and trusting God to lead us in the path that is best for His glory and our ultimate good.
Text
"Surrender your very selves to God as living men who have risen from the dead" (Romans 6:13). (Weymouth)
I went one night to hear an address on consecration. No special message came to me from it, but as the speaker kneeled to pray, he dropped this sentence: "O Lord, Thou knowest we can trust the Man that died for us." And that was my message. I rose and walked down the street to the train; and as I walked, I pondered deeply all that consecration might mean to my life and--I was afraid. And then, above the noise and clatter of the street traffic came to me the message: "You can trust the Man that died for you."
I got into the train to ride homeward; and as I rode, I thought of the changes, the sacrifices, the disappointments which consecration might mean to me and--I was afraid.
I reached home and sought my room, and there upon my knees I saw my past life. I had been a Christian, an officer in the church, a Sunday-school superintendent, but had never definitely yielded my life to God.
Yet as I thought of the darling plans which might be baffled, of the cherished hopes to be surrendered, and the chosen profession which I might be called upon to abandoned--I was afraid.
I did not see the better things God had for me, so my soul was shrinking back; and then for the last time, with a swift rush of convicting power, came to my innermost heart that searching message:
"My child, you can trust the Man that died for you. If you cannot trust Him whom can you trust?"
That settled it for me, for in a flash I saw that the Man who so loved me as to die for me could be absolutely trusted with all the concerns of the life He had saved.
Friend, you can trust the Man that died for you. You can trust Him to baffle no plan which is not best to be foiled, and to carry out every one which is for God's glory and your highest good. You can trust Him to lead you in the path which is the very best in this world for you.--J H. McC
"Just as I am, thy love unknown,
Has broken every barrier down,
Now to be Thine, yea, Thine ALONE,
O Lamb of God, I come!"
"Life is not salvage to be saved out of the world, but an investment to be used in the world."
Sermon Outline
- I points: - Introduction to trust in God - The importance of consecration - Personal testimony of fear and trust
- II points: - Understanding the sacrifice of Jesus - The call to surrender - Recognizing God's better plans
- III points: - Trusting God with our lives - Overcoming fear of change - The assurance of God's guidance
- IV points: - The significance of yielding to God - Living as a trustful servant - The joy of following God's path
Key Quotes
“You can trust the Man that died for you.” — Charles E. Cowman
“If you cannot trust Him whom can you trust?” — Charles E. Cowman
“Life is not salvage to be saved out of the world, but an investment to be used in the world.” — Charles E. Cowman
Application Points
- Reflect on areas of your life where you need to surrender control to God.
- Embrace the idea that God's plans for you are better than your own.
- Practice trusting God daily by seeking His guidance in your decisions.